Suitcase



Dec. l5, 1931. w. R. K. GANDELL 1,837,119

SUTCASE Filed July 14, 1927 2 sheets-sheet 1 In M5 4k I,

Zzvezz for worizy,

D- 15, 1931- w. R. K. GANDELL SUITCASE Filed July 14, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n f l n m n l m Morne?,

Patented Dec. 1,5, 1931 WILLIAig nannten ma LoiviJoNgfENGLAND i i semmai.-

applicati@ med my 14, 1927, jsenfai noi ao5,7e23,`-ents1n Great arman my 14,1926.

This invention relates tei suit cases-of the kind comprising a lower box-shaped member open at the top and an upper `lid member adapted tofit over .thefupperlportion of the 5 lower `member `in the manner of the l`lid 'of an ordinary cardboardV box, the cubic space available `for the transport andstoragev of articles being regulated or Avaried "atwilLk According to thislinvention in order'that the upper and lower members may befirmly secured together at vvarious heights, the upper member is provided with one ormore lockfA ing members or bolts adapted to engagewith` any one of a plurality of superposed slots or openings in loclrfreceivingmembers secured to the lower member;` Such'llocks and locks receiving members are: preferably duplicated on two opposite sides or ends ofl a suit case.

When, however, it is desired ,to pack additional articles in the suit case, theseare stored in the upper or lidmember.` In this case the lid obviously cannot lie-pressed down tightly on to the upper edges of thelowerfmember, but only `a certain distance'until the articles in the lidrmemberzcomeinto contact with the articles in the lower or box member, such distance 1 depending upon the depth ofthe articles in the lidLmember.' If1a` horizontal partition be employed, this `will serve to 3o separate the articles inthe upper member from those in the lower member. Y

Thelid member is provided with tapes or other devices `for retaining articles `within the lid member. Also, the lower member may be provided with one or more horizontal and/or vertical partitions to prevent crushf` ing of the articles. 7 y

One of such horizontal partitions is; in the form offa substantially rigid plate of 10 not less than the size of the outside measurements of the top ofthe lower member, and

may be notched to enable it to be held under the tapes on the inside of the upper member.

This partition does not enter the lower member, but rests on the upper edges of it, and

prevents articles in the upper member from exerting pressure on those in the lower member.

In order that the suit case or the like may be properly balanced when carried, indepartition.

pendently ofthe extent` to which `it may have been extended,a` handle may be arranged so that itmay be; caused to'slide transversely. Inthis -way such handle may be positioned centrally relatively to the heightl or depth of the s'u'it case.

' 1 `Theihandle may be permanently attached at one endto, the* lower member and detachably secured at its other end to the upper member, or the handle may be provided with 50,

two gripping members linthe mannerof a hit-bag, Aone o these `gripping membersV beingsecured tothe upper and one to the lower member.. m A r i @The lid1nemberLA may be provided with C'; any `number of handles wherever convenient.

i In addition to the two locks described, one

or more additional spring catches may be rovided, which would en age in suitable ockweceiving members wit a plurality of 7.05 slots or'holes one above another in or on the lower member.

` Among other purposes-to which this inventiommaybe applied is that of Vluggage carrlejrsfor motor roadvehicles. Such car- '55 rlers maylserve to contain one or more `suit cases or the actual t' articles for personal fuse themselves. i 1

lThe invention is illustratedinthe annexed drawings in which $0` -Figc-1 isa front elevation of a suit' case; Fig. 2 isa plan view; Fig. 3 isa slde elevation, and y jFig. 4 is a section on the line 41-4` of Fig'i. t. i S1? `In these drawings, a `representsthe upper or lid member` and b the lower member. AFor packing purposes the two members a .andb are entirely independent` of one another, and may be `removed one from the 99 1 other in the manner of a cardboard box, `the uppermember a being inverted during the packingy process. When all .the requisite articles Acan be packed in thelower member b the underside -of the upper member a lies 95 Hush with the upper surface of the lower member b"l or if, as shown in the drawings, a horizontal partition :n is employed, the undersurface of the member a rests on this Means are provided whereby the member a may be retained at various levels relatively to the member b., These means consists of a plurality of cooperating locks or bolts c and look-receiving members d. The latter comprise a plurality ofvslots e adapted to receive the catclimember ofthe lock. A pair of these' retaining *devicesy isfpieferably erlployed, one at each end of the suit. case.

In addition ,j to these locks additional spring catches y f are employed, one being 'arL ranged at each side of the suit case.

The members f are adapted to engage any f.v

tending. upwardly from said bottom; an upone of a plurality ofsuperposed slots tg, The lower member is provided with horizont'al'partitions IL, vof which three-are shown,

. although any desired number may 'be employed. l These partitions are on one side fitted into grooves j whilst yon thie'other side they rest upon vledges lc, suitable 'clips l being rovided to hold them in place. These partitions 7L which are interchangeable may be lremoved and arranged vertically, gaps *m' in the ledges `being left for this purpose. The partitions may, if desired, be hinged together. inI a permanent manner. Straps 'or tapes n may be provided to assist in retaining articles in position. A handle o of ordinary type may convenientlybe provided o'n the upper surface of the member a as shown.

As 'an addition or alternative to the handle o 'a further handle p adjustable as to its positionmay be employed. f This latter handle, as shown in Figs. land 2, is secured to one side of the member a, and its position may be ad# justed by means of two spring catohlmemb'er's adapted to engage any pair ofsuperposed slotsg.l n Y Articles stored in the up' er member Ia 'are held in placeby means -o the' parti-tion e, which isformed with notches r'by ineans'of which it is held beneath tapes-8 on lthe inember a. The partition m is o f the same -Si-Ze as the `'o'u't'sic'le o'f vthe member b, and -re'sts upon the upper surface of the latter, so that articles in vthe member a exert 'no appreciable pressure on those in the member o. v Two holes 'are formed in the partition. These'allow of the insertion of two fingers when it is desired to remove the partition.. v In order that 'the hasp of a bolt or loc-k may bear evenly on the lid member o-f 'the suitcase la'oking pieces of about the thickness of the rame may be secured to the outside of the lid member or to ythe inside or to both sides. The substantially rigid partition .'11 may made with projecting edges or flanges to fit 'over o'r into the lower member like a lid.

VI-Iaving thus described the nat-ure o'f my said invention andthe best means I know of 'carrying ythe same into practical effect, 1I claim-:-

l'. A suitc'ase comprising a lower linem-ber having a bottom and side and end eX- tending upwardly from said bottom; an upper member comprising a top and side and end walls depending from said top, the side and walls of said upper member being adapted telescopically to receive the side and end walls of the lower member, partitions each of a width not greater than the depth of said lwer member and in'sertabl'e in said lower member, and means carried by said lower member for supporting said partitions in eithe'rhorizontal vor vertical position.

' 2, A suit case comprising a lower member having a bottom and side and end walls exper member comprising a top and side and end wal-ls 'depending from said top, the 'side an'dend walls of said upper member being adapted telescopially to receive the side and end walls of the lower member, a longitudinally grooved bar and "a led-ge projecting, respectively, from the inner sides yof the side walls "of said lower member, said bar and ledge having aligned transverse slots, and partition members each of la width not greater than the depth of said lower member and insertablein lsaid lower member in a horizontal position with one of their ends in the groove o f said bar vand their opposite 'ends supported b said ledge or in vertical positions with t 'eir'lopposite 'ends in the transverse grooves of said bar and ledge.

3. A suit case comprising 'a lower member having a bottom and -side and end walls eX- tending upwardly from `said bottom; an upper member comprising a top and side and end walls depending from said top, the side and end walls of said upper member being adapted 'to receive telescopically the side and end walls ofthe lower member, 'a longitudinally grooved bar anda ledge projecting, rel speotively, from the inner 'sides oit the side walls of the flower member, vand a partition insertable in said lowermember 'and with one edge in the groove of said bar and resting at its 'opposite edge on sali'd ledge, and a lremovable substantially rigid partition, the length and breadth of which is not less than theexternal length and breadth of the lower member which rests upon the upper edges of'sa'id lower member when the case is-closed, for Vthe purpose specified.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification, j j

WILLIAM RALEIGH KERK GANDELL. 

